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Finding aid to the San Francisco Charter Commission Records

Finding aid prepared by Tami Suzuki. San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library 100 Larkin Street San Francisco, CA, 94102 (415) 557-4567 [email protected] 2009; revised 2011

Finding aid to the San Francisco SFH 25 1 Charter Commission Records Title: San Francisco Charter Commission Records Date (inclusive): 1931-1980 Date (bulk): 1979-1980 Collection Identifier: SFH 25 Creator: San Francisco (Calif.). Charter Commission. Physical Description: 2 cartons(2.0 cubic feet) Contributing Institution: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library 100 Larkin Street San Francisco, CA, 94102 (415) 557-4567 [email protected] Abstract: This collection documents the work of the San Francisco Charter Commission, which met from 1978 to 1980 and put forth a new city charter on the November 4, 1980 ballot. The measure, Proposition A, failed. Materials include charter history, drafts and final text, reports, surveys, minutes and hearing summaries, public comments, a facilitator's manual, a speakers manual, legal opinions, campaign materials, press releases, and newspaper clippings. Physical Location: The collection is stored offsite. Language of Materials: Collection materials are in English. Access The collection is open for research. A minimum of two working days' notice is required for use. Please call the San Francisco History Center for hours and information at 415-557-4567. Publication Rights All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items. Preferred Citation [Identification of item], San Francisco Charter Commission Records (SFH 25), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library. Provenance Transferred from the San Francisco Charter Commission as it disbanded in 1980. Related Materials Researchers are encouraged to see also the Jack Morrison Papers, 1962-1988 (bulk 1966-1969, SFH 24), the San Francisco Citizens Charter Revision Committee Records, 1968-1972 (SFH 33), the San Francisco Select Committee on Charter Reform Records, 1978-1996 (bulk 1994-1995, SFH 32), and the San Francisco History Center's subject and card files, and to check the library catalog for related materials. Processing Information Processed by Tami Suzuki in 2008. Organizational History The charter is San Francisco's constitution. The San Francisco Charter Commission was established as a result of voter approval of Proposition L in June 1978 ("Declaration of Policy: Shall the Board of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco act to call an election to choose charter commissioners, who would thereafter prepare and propose a revised City and County Charter for subsequent approval by the voters of San Francisco?") and Proposition X in November 1978 ("Shall a Charter Commission be elected to propose a new charter or to revise the charter?"). These measures each called for the election of 15 commissioners, who were elected in November 1978. The commissioners were charged with proposing a new charter or revising the existing charter that was adopted in 1932 and later amended over 500 times. The first city charter was adopted in 1898, creating a "strong mayor" form of government. Reformers in the 1920s succeeded in voter adoption of a new charter in 1932, establishing a chief administrative officer to direct most of the city's departments. Under this charter, power was diffused throughout the city. Over time, numerous incremental charter changes made governing arrangements more complex. Charter revision was attempted several times--including three failed attempts--but resulted in little change. A fourth committee made recommendations that appeared on the November 1968 ballot (Proposition E) but was defeated. A reconstituted committee then rearranged charter sections more logically with no substantive changes. This recodification passed in November 1971 (Proposition R).

Finding aid to the San Francisco SFH 25 2 Charter Commission Records The main principles of the 1979-1980 commission's proposed document were to simplify the charter and make it an enabling document, to give authority to the responsible official, make different branches of government plan priorities cooperatively, and fix responsibility and structures between branches of government, in addition to holding elected officials responsible. Over a nearly 2-year period, the group conducted over 70 public hearings, 2 surveys, and a public education program, and prepared 2 drafts and a final version. Among other things, the proposed new charter, Proposition A, gave more authority to the mayor, reduced the chief administrative officer's term from 10 to 4 years, reduced the controller's term from life to 6 years, required that women be included on each commission and board, and gave greater status to the Human Rights Commission. Proposition A failed, 46 percent to 54 percent, on Nov. 4, 1980. Scope and Contents This collection documents the work of the San Francisco Charter Commission, which met from 1978 to 1980 and put forth a new city charter on the November 4, 1980 ballot. The measure, Proposition A, failed. Materials include charter history, drafts and final text, reports, surveys, minutes and hearing summaries, public comments, a facilitator's manual, a speakers manual, legal opinions, campaign materials, press releases, and newspaper clippings. Arrangement The collection is organized into 5 series: Series 1: Meetings; Series 2: Reports and Charter Text; Series 3: Public Education and Participation Program; Series 4: Yes on A Campaign; and Series 5: Reference Materials. Within each series, materials are organized chronologically. Subjects and Indexing Terms San Francisco (Calif.). Charter Commission. -- Archives County charters--California--San Francisco Municipal charters--California--San Francisco San Francisco (Calif.)-- Politics and government. San Francisco (Calif.)--Charters

Series 1 Meetings, 1978-1980 Physical Description: 0.75 cubic feet Scope and Contents This series includes minutes, hearing summaries, and commission training materials.

Box 1, Folder 1 Commission workshop materials, Feb. 1979 Box 1, Folder 2 Budget and organization of committee, 1979-1980 Box 1, Folders 3-6 Minutes, agendas, and hearing summaries, 1978-1980 Box 1, Folder 7 Executive Director job opening, [1979] Box 1, Folders 8-9 Administration and Finance Committee, 1979 Box 1, Organization of Government Committee, 1979-1980 Folders 10-11 Box 1, Personnel Administration Committee, 1979-1980 Folders 12-13 Series 2 Reports and Charter Text, 1979-1980 Physical Description: 0.6 cubic feet Scope and Contents Includes surveys, reports, and draft and final proposed charter text.

Box 1, Folder 14 Working papers, 1979-1980 Box 1, Folder 15 First interim report, Box 1, Folder 16 Management symposium summary, Box 1, Folder 17 Baseline survey and findings, January- Box 1, Folder 18 Baseline survey facilitator's handbook, Box 2, Folder 1 Follow-up survey and findings, May-August 1980 Box 2, Folder 2 Survey business, December 1979- Box 2, Folder 3 First discussion draft, January 1980

Finding aid to the San Francisco SFH 25 3 Charter Commission Records Series 2Reports and Charter Text, 1979-1980

Box 2, Folder 4 Working papers for second draft, May-June 1980 Box 2, Folder 5 Second discussion draft, June 1980 Box 2, Folder 6 Third draft, Box 2, Folder 7 Comments from city agencies and the public, April-July 1980 Box 2, Folder 8 Comparison of proposals with 1932 charter, July 1980 Box 2, Folder 9 Legal opinions, -August 1980 Box 2, Folder 10 Proposed charter, August 1980 Box 2, Folder 11 Summary of proposed charter, August 1980 Box 2, Folder 12 Revised text, Series 3 Public Education and Participation Program, 1979-1980 Physical Description: 0.33 cubic feet Scope and Contents This series includes a speaker's manual and press releases used for public education.

Box 2, Folder 13 Advisory Committee, 1979-1980 Box 2, Folder 14 Report, March 1980 Box 2, Folder 15 Speaker's manual, 1980 Box 2, Folder 16 Literature, 1980 Box 2, Folder 17 Press releases, 1979-1980 Box 2, Folder 18 Radio and television public service announcements, March-August 1980 Box 2, Folder 19 News clippings, 1979-1980 Box 2, Folder 20 Photographs, undated-1980 Series 4 Yes on A Campaign, 1980 Physical Description: 7.0 folders Scope and Contents Includes press releases and ballot arguments.

Box 2, Folder 21 Commissioners' signatures, August 1980 Box 2, Folder 22 Steering Committee meetings, August- Box 2, Folder 23 Television and radio spots, August-October 1980 Box 2, Folder 24 Press releases, September-October 1980 Box 2, Folder 25 Slate cards, October-November 1980 Box 2, Folder 26 Ballot arguments, November 1980 Box 2, Folder 27 Charter revision in San Francisco, 1980 Series 5 Reference Materials, 1931-1980 Physical Description: 0.33 cubic feet Scope and Contents Includes reports and text of other San Francisco charter revision efforts.

Box 2, Folder 28 Charter, 1931 Box 2, Folder 29 Charter legislation history, 1965 Box 2, Folder 30 Charter legislation history, 1969 Box 2, Folder 31 Proposition E text, 1969 Box 2, Folder 32 Committee reports, 1969-1972 Box 2, Folder 33 Charter, 1978 Box 2, Folder 34 News clippings, related, 1978-1980 Box 2, Folder 35 Charter amendment: Senior Executive Service project report,

Finding aid to the San Francisco SFH 25 4 Charter Commission Records